With the start of the summer season, the number of drowning incidents at sea has increased. Some experts attribute this to unfavorable weather conditions and people swimming in prohibited areas. Other experts believe that the main reason is the extraction of sand from the sea. According to them, the removal of sand creates deep pits on the seabed, which increases the risk of drowning.
Is the extraction of sand really the main reason for drownings at sea?
“Elchi” reports that ecologist and biodiversity expert Arzu Mustafayev told Globalinfo.az that the primary reason is human irresponsibility.
“Yes, uncontrolled sand extraction has become widespread, especially in the Baku, Absheron, and Khizi regions, and unfortunately, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) is either passive or unable to prevent it. However, extracting sand directly from the sea is both a very difficult and heavy process, and since the sand extracted from the sea is wet, it is almost impossible to use it as a construction material. Therefore, the claims regarding sand extraction from the sea can be considered somewhat fabricated. It should be noted that even if sand is removed from the shore, the sea does not recede because of this. This is because the areas where sand is extracted are mainly located in the coastal zone,” he stated.
According to A. Mustafayev, one of the main reasons for accidents at sea is the temperature difference:
“In recent times, the air temperature has started to rise sharply in a short period. As we know, the heat capacity of water is higher than that of land. Therefore, a significant temperature difference arises between the land and the sea water, as well as between the upper and lower layers of the water. Entering cold water suddenly from hot weather can cause muscle problems and cramps in many people. Another reason is people attempting to enter the sea in areas where swimming is prohibited. In addition, some irresponsible individuals entering the sea after consuming alcoholic beverages can also lead to tragic events. One of the most serious reasons is that people, especially those who do not know how to swim, attempt to swim in dangerous parts of the sea without correctly assessing their physical capabilities. In general, these are the main reasons for accidents at sea.”